The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-06-08
AT THE HEROES GRAVES.
How Decoration Day Was OBJ
served by Soldiers and
Civilians.
oX rmE GErrysBrRG rlrLp.

been thronged with people from the sur
rounding country all day, while quite a
number of visitors from a distance took
in the always impressive services of Mem
orial Day at Gettysburg. At . O'Clock in
the afternoon the procession, headed by
the Grand Army band of this place, and
composed of the orator. poet and distin-
guisied guests in carriages, Sons of Vet
Grams, Red Men and GA r. veterans un-
der Captain James Hersh, as chief mar
slal, with DR.. r. 7. Tate and John s. Dun
can as aides, marched to the National
Cemetery. After the ceremonies by the
Posts the children of the public schools
strewed profusion of flowers over the
$3.50 graves in the cemetery and the vast
throng surrounded the vine-clad rostrum.
! I'M Krauth, secretary of the Memorial
Association, called the assembly to order
and aft er music by the Fairfield Glee
Club Rev. T. J. Barkley, Of the Reformed
Church, Gettysburg, opened with prayer.
The orator of the day, Colonel j. Wilson
Norris, Auditor General of Pennsylvania,
was introduced and in carefully prepar-
ed Grafton dwelt upon the glory achieved
! by the private soldier In his introduc-
ton he spoke pathetically Of the heroes
who slept in the graves before him and
while he would not detract from the hon
or of those who commanded, yet he knew
! full well with what acrimony different of
fcers had defended their movements and
| he said that il was not TO the grand STRAIT
1 egy of her generals, but to the stubborn
courage Of her rank and file that victory
! crowned the union arms at Gettysburg.
| Speaking Of the intelligent enthusiasm of
the American soldier he showed how it
! achieved results far beyond those reach
! ed by the mere mechanical tactics Of the
soldiery of the past. In conclusion he
said that the lesson taught by experience
in the late war was that We can rely on
the sturdy self-reliance of our people in
all exigencies
Col. Dewitt c. Sprague, Of Washington
d. C., delivered a poem on "The Tn
known which was a fitting afterpiece
10 the oration Rev DR.. H. W. Mcknight
president of Pennsylvania College, pro-
nounced the benediction.
This morning, headed by the band
and accompanied by members of Post 9,
the colored veterans and school children
decorated the graves Of colored soldiers.
With contribution By the veteran asso-
ciation of the Fourteenth Connecticut
Regiment all the Connecticut graves here
were to-day decorated with flags and rare
flowers, the same arrangements applying
to all the soldiers graves of that State in
the various cemeteries of the Union.
AT LoGAS's TOMB.
WASHINGTON, May 30.-Decoration Day
was observed as a general holiday in this
city, and all the government departments,
District offices, banks and many business
houses were closed. The day was bright
and cool, and large numbers Of people at
tended the ceremonies at the various
cemeteries, while many others went on
picnics.
The Grand Army Posts having charge
of the ceremonies at Arlington were es-
corted to West Washington by the mill
tia companies in camp, under command
of General james b. Carnaham, Of Indi-
ana, with Colonel Charles King, of Wis
consin, as his chief of staff. The colored
Posts were saluted by the Southern COM
panies when the escort came to halt in
the same manner as the militia Posts
were. The first division of the procession
was made up as follows; Nicksburg South
rons and band, Belknap Rifles, Lomax
Rifles, Bullene Guards of Kansas City,
Louisville Legion and drum corps, Amer
lean Cadet Band of Milwaukee, the
Eighth separate company of New York,
Company ID, Thirty-second New York,
Grand Rapids Guards of Michigan and
Custer Guards of Michigan. The second
division was composed of local military
companies and g. 4. T. Posts.
At Arlington, the graves of the un-
known dead were first decorated and
then the graves of other fallen soldiers.
The ceremonies were opened with an in
vocation by Rev 5 H. Green, of Calvary
Baptist Church, after which an original
poem, Why These Flags and Flowers
was read by Comrade Burger. Music
was rendered by the Marine Band, and
orations were delivered by Congressman
Matson, OF Indiana, and Ex-Congressman
c, NJ. Anderson, Of Ohio.
At the Soldiers Home the ceremonies
were conducted by Kit Carson Post, No.
=, ahd the veterans of the home were
present. The program included music,
prayer by the Rev. Byron Sunderland |
and an Grafton by General Wager Swayne
of New York.
gan in Rock Creek Cemetery were pic
turesque and interesting.
Such protuslons Of floral tributes as
decorated the last resting place of the |
dead General has rarely been seen. The |
graceful marble facade of the tomb was
almost hidden from view by great shields, |
crosses and other devices cunningly |
wrought in flowers of vivid hues. Two |
waving flags of immortalles on Il ground |
of ferns, bearing the words :" Brave Io-
gan rested against the emblematic figure
at the top, sent by the Grand Army of
the Republic Department of Illinois Be
meath it was suspended gigantic wreath
of white roses from John A. Logans faith
er-in-law, Mr. Andrews The Young Re
publicans of Philadelpliia contributed a
large easel, bearing cross, crown and
swords Mrs. Stanford sent piece COM
posed of an anchor and bleeding heart
bound with satin ribbon. U. 5. Grant
Post, of Brooklyn, was represented by
shield of roses and immortelles and the
local posts of the Grand Army of the Re
public displayed as their tribute an elab-
orate corps badge and national shields
In the interior of the tomb the floral dec
orations seemed to be even more profilse
than outside.
Mrs. Logan who had Temporarily occu-
pied the sentrie's tent, was given seat
on the left of the tomb. She was accom-
panied by Mrs. Tucker, John A. Logan,
Jr., Manning Logan, and wife and Mrs.
Ia ( y 1